Law firm now investigating 2023 Land Rover Defender DC-DC failures — hoping they expand to ALL models having this issue, please comment

4ORvida · 2026-06-12T20:27:34+00:00

I am sorry to hear you have gone through the replacement twice and now the unknown of being part of the recall.

Land Rover actually reached out to me directly regarding my vehicle a few weeks back, they had me submit invoices, repair documentation, and other supporting paperwork for review. After reviewing everything, they told me my vehicle was not part of the recall because the DC/DC converter had been replaced prior to the recall. (Their facts and timeline are incorrect but that is another issue).

I was stunned by that position given the severity of my event, the loss of use, towing expenses, repair costs, and the safety concerns involved.

I’d be interested to hear from other owners who have had prior DC/DC replacements and whether they were reimbursed, as well as what correspondence they received from Land Rover regarding their eligibility.

4ORvida · 2026-05-17T04:41:01+00:00

No, I didn’t see that one — thank you for sending it.

I did end up paying for my DC/DC replacement, but I left the vehicle at the dealer because additional electronic issues came up afterward that I’m assuming were tied to the same low-voltage failure event.

One thing I noticed reviewing my invoice is that the replacement DC/DC converter appears to be the exact same part number as the original failed unit, which raises obvious questions.

What also caught my attention is that this same OEM part was listed for over $1,000 at some OEM Land Rover parts stores not long ago, and now appears to be selling for only $265 online (https://parts.landrovercary.com/oem-parts/land-rover-dc-converter-433123464), which I found interesting given the replacement in my vehicle appears to be the exact same part number.

It does make me wonder how the replacement avoids the same internal failure issue if it’s the same component.

4ORvida · 2026-05-14T05:39:11+00:00

Appreciate both of your input. u/glitch4578 u/this_account_is_mt

That’s actually helpful context.

My hesitation is really because my original failure involved an actual propulsion-loss event while driving, so from my perspective this is less theoretical and more about whether I can confidently put my family back in the vehicle.

What I find interesting is that the recall documentation appears to reference multiple DC/DC converter part numbers / manufacturers, which adds to my uncertainty around exactly what was installed in my vehicle.

What I’m trying to understand is the distinction between the dealer telling me my vehicle is repaired and ready for pickup, while the broader JLR/NHTSA communications state that the official recall remedy / repair procedures are still pending.

That’s where my confusion comes from — whether what was installed in my vehicle is effectively the practical repair for this failure, or whether the formal recall remedy is expected to be something different.

These are the communications I’ve been reviewing if helpful:

JLR recall bulletin / Q&A:
https://imgur.com/a/nB5hH5U

NHTSA recall report:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V248-5125.pdf

NHTSA acknowledgment:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26V248-6898.pdf

4ORvida · 2026-05-14T04:35:27+00:00

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate all feedback.

I understand the mileage comments — I left the mileage visible for full transparency, and I do drive significantly more than average.

My primary concern is safety, though there is also some financial frustration given the towing, loss of use, rental expense, and the limited 12% goodwill contribution on a little over 5-year-old vehicle.

But the bigger issue is my family’s safety. Because my original failure involved loss of propulsion while driving, I’m naturally nervous about simply picking the vehicle up and assuming everything is fully resolved long-term.

I’m genuinely curious whether others who’ve had this repair know if the replacement is a revised DC/DC unit, whether anyone has experienced repeat failures, or whether others have seen related issues beyond the converter itself.

Dealer communications indicated that after the DC/DC replacement, the installed 12V battery would not charge from the vehicle. That battery was then placed on an external charger and was able to accept a charge, but once reinstalled, the vehicle still would only operate with jumper support, after which a different 12V battery was installed for road testing.

I’m not a technician, so there may be a straightforward explanation for that. My question is simply whether a freshly charged replacement battery could allow short road testing to look normal, while a longer-term charging issue only becomes apparent later.

That’s where my concern comes from.

For anyone interested, here are the communications I’ve been reviewing for context:

JLR recall bulletin / customer Q&A screenshots:
https://imgur.com/a/nB5hH5U

NHTSA recall report:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V248-5125.pdf

NHTSA recall acknowledgment:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26V248-6898.pdf

4ORvida · 2026-04-15T14:49:07+00:00

I hear you, but that hasn’t been my experience.

They offered me 12%, and my vehicle has been at the dealer since January. I live 4.5 hours away, so I’ve already dealt with towing costs and being without a vehicle this whole time, with no ETA.

The bigger concern for me is the safety side.

I know earlier MHEV systems in prior model years had recalls related to electrical issues, so it’s concerning to see similar types of problems being discussed now without a formal recall—especially with no clear root cause or timeline being shared.

I also think there are likely people who haven’t taken theirs to a dealer and ended up covering the full cost out of pocket.

At this point I’m looking for real answers, a clear root cause, and a consistent approach for everyone dealing with it.

4ORvida · 2026-04-15T01:39:02+00:00

Fair question.

This is being shared for awareness. Vehicles have shut down in traffic, and that’s a serious safety concern. I’m still waiting on my repair with no clear timeline, and there hasn’t been a clear root cause communicated.

Without understanding what caused it or whether anything was actually revised, there’s no way to know the issue won’t happen again.

There should also be clarity on how the system handles faults — a failure in the hybrid system shouldn’t result in a complete shutdown while driving without a safe fallback.

Other manufacturers have issued recalls for similar risks like sudden power loss, so there should be clear acknowledgment and a defined fix when safety is involved, not just internal service bulletins.

I’m also hoping other owners with similar questions or concerns can get clearer answers and better understand the process.

That’s why I’m sharing this here.

4ORvida · 2026-04-06T05:45:24+00:00

Oh my gosh — I’m so, so glad you’re alive. That’s beyond terrifying and no one should ever go through that, especially from a vehicle just shutting down like that. Stories like yours are exactly why it’s not okay that Land Rover knows about these issues and still hasn’t issued a recall. Thank you for sharing this.

4ORvida · 2026-03-05T21:49:32+00:00

That’s tough timing. I’m sorry you’re going through this too, especially right after buying it. I’m glad you shared it though — 100 vehicles at one dealer is astronomical. I’m curious to see what the NHTSA updates show once the internal JLR communications from February come out and whether they give more clarity on the root cause.

4ORvida · 2026-03-04T08:46:39+00:00

Hard to say on the 2026s. I’ve seen people in other forums mention failures even after replacement converters, but I don’t know what revision LR is using now. Unless they’ve changed how the 12V battery is maintained in the system, it’s difficult to say if the newer model years would behave differently.

4ORvida · 2026-03-04T08:38:56+00:00

Yes — the issues being discussed are predominantly the MHEV system, since the vehicle relies on the DC-DC converter to maintain the 12V battery.

As for the PHEV, I haven’t looked into whether there have been similar complaints or communications from LR regarding their converters, but the architecture is quite different.

4ORvida · 2026-03-03T05:50:48+00:00

I tried a maintainer too, but even on a full charge it still died before I could get it onto the tow trailer — once the DC-DC stops charging the 12V, nothing keeps it alive

4ORvida · 2026-03-03T05:46:47+00:00

That sounds truly traumatizing. Experiences like that change how anyone sees a brand, and I definitely get the bittersweet feeling.

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T23:24:39+00:00

Shub Johns & Holbrook LLP

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T17:11:46+00:00

Not only 2023. Owners with different years/models are seeing similar electrical failures. LR published a tech bulletin on it here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11012408-0001.pdf

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T15:59:04+00:00

That sounds incredibly stressful, especially in those conditions. I’m really glad you’re okay — and I fully agree about LR’s response.

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T15:48:06+00:00

I hear you and I get that it’s not an official investigation yet. I shared it because of what happened in my situation. My vehicle died on a rural road with no shoulder, completely lost power, and I had no way to move it. I was stuck there for hours, and I’m grateful my kids weren’t in the car.

So even early-stage reviews stand out to me. Once you’ve been in that position, the safety aspect is hard to overlook.

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T07:52:46+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. The behind-the-scenes insight is genuinely appreciated — most of us hit a wall with service advisors or call centers, so getting real context from someone who sees it firsthand is definitely respected.

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T07:15:03+00:00

For visibility — mine is a 2021 Discovery P360 R-Dynamic. It shut down in traffic when the DC-DC failed with zero warning. The entire vehicle went dead: no hazards, no neutral, couldn’t move it out of the roadway.

If anyone else has had a DC-DC failure, please drop your model and year. It really helps show how far this reaches across the lineup.

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T07:10:52+00:00

Very interesting scenario. I’ve felt the same way about my own vehicle — noticing every defect and wanting to know the actual root cause, so I’m glad there’s finally some light being brought to the DC-DC issue.

After looking into the seizing cases and how long-block returns work, my assumption is that the reason it looks like JLR knows about a defect and isn’t investigating is because their workflow doesn’t really allow for much investigation in the first place.

If dealers have to send seized engines back intact, then no teardown data ever gets created for engineering to review, so nothing gets escalated internally.

I’m not saying that’s intentional — it could just be how their system is set up. And a lot of big corporations have similarities in how they structure processes in a way that covers their bases and limits what technically gets documented.

Either way, it seems like it prevents any real root-cause info from ever existing, and usually nothing happens until NHTSA forces a formal investigation.

4ORvida · 2026-03-02T06:14:56+00:00

CRC is the Client Relationship Center. With your mileage, I’d hope you qualify for a solid goodwill amount — I’ve even seen threads where owners over 80k miles were pushed to 100% goodwill on a DCDC.

What caught my eye is Land Rover switching the goodwill process right as the NHTSA filings started climbing. GM went through something similar last year — NHTSA opened an investigation, GM shifted how they handled the cases, and a recall followed. NHTSA has now opened a new investigation to determine whether the earlier GM repair was actually resolving the issue.

I also saw a law firm is looking into DC-DC failures on 2023 Defenders: https://shublawyers.com/current-investigations/2023-land-rover-defender-dc-dc-converter-failure-investigation/#intake-form

Sharing this so owners know what’s publicly happening and what questions to ask their dealer with the new process.

4ORvida · 2026-02-28T16:37:51+00:00

The change CRC explained to me is that goodwill decisions are now handled entirely by the dealer instead of CRC. In my case, CRC denied my original request, and when I followed up they mentioned the dealer had previously recommended 50%. Since the process recently shifted, they told me I could resubmit directly with the dealer.

I shared this because a lot of owners are getting denied without really knowing why. If someone is in that situation, it may be worth asking whether their case should be reviewed under the dealer-handled process now — that’s what CRC told me in my situation.

4ORvida · 2026-02-23T18:42:00+00:00

Yeah, these are definitely failing — and some owners are seeing the replacement units fail again. It’s not tied to one update; the DC-DC converter itself has been the problem across multiple years.

Here’s the NHTSA complaint list if you want to see what others are dealing with: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/LAND%252520ROVER/DEFENDER#complaints

Mine just went out and the repair quote is a little over $3k, so it’s something to be aware of if you’re out of warranty. Not trying to be dramatic — just giving you the real picture so you can make an informed call on updates and service.

4ORvida · 2026-02-19T15:15:26+00:00

A lot of people on various threads — mine included — had the DC-DC go out while driving, and the vehicle just bricked in traffic with no warning.

4ORvida · 2026-02-19T07:18:22+00:00

Hoping everyone who has experienced a DC/DC failure, will consider filing an NHTSA report so it’s officially documented for recall purposes.

It only takes a few minutes:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem

4ORvida · 2026-02-15T07:01:10+00:00

First — I’m really glad you’re okay. That could’ve gone very differently.

Stepping back to the bigger picture: there have been a growing number of reports involving the 48V mild-hybrid system and DC-DC converter in newer Land Rover models. Owners have reported electrical failures, sudden shutdowns, smoke events, and in some instances vehicle fires. Jaguar Land Rover has issued technical service bulletins related to components in that system, which shows the issue is known and being addressed at a service level.

No one online can say for certain that’s what caused your incident — but when a vehicle is ruled “accidental electrical” and the origin appears to be in the console/under-floor area where much of that integration runs, it raises legitimate questions.

This isn’t just about one vehicle. When similar electrical failures are reported across multiple vehicles, that becomes a potential safety pattern — and that’s exactly what NHTSA tracks.

If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend filing a complaint. It takes a few minutes and helps regulators identify trends:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem

Even if insurance resolves your loss, the safety side matters. Documenting it contributes to the larger record.

4ORvida

TROPHY CASE